omg Alex I am so sorry that this happened to you!! Thank you so much for sharing, your videos are so open and honest. I really appreciate how you share the entire perspective, the good and the bad, which is so important. And I'm glad you got out of that situation.
Oh Alex, I'm so sorry that you had to go through all of this, but I'm glad to hear you're in a better space now. I think it's wonderful how you share your experiences and emotions with others. You make a difference. *hugs*
@Zedie36 i def want to speak about my experience and articulate how this impacted me. it's crazy how privileged i am to seek proper mental health care. on a completely different topic, i actually lived in cinci for about half a year. i knocked doors selling alarm systems in west commonsville & over the rhinne & every other dodgy neighborhood. talk about a real quick wake up call to privilege. here i am, utah raised exposed to utah 'ghetto.' but i loved it. it changed my life for the better.
@TheSLOfox that sounds like a really difficult situation. it would be tricky facilitating a group and not being a therapist. unfortunately, both the facilitators at that group i attended are licensed therapists who most definitely are held to a higher standard. i agree, here's to all the support anyone could ever get!
@Zoelzo i agree. i don't think it's too much to ask, no demand, PROFESSIONALS who are kind and loving. once i'm up and about i definitely plan on meeting with a few key people to discuss my experience. i've already started to draft a series of letter writing campaigns also, so this can't be pushed aside. i hope i'm able to instill some change because god knows it's greatly needed.
Thank you for sharing this sad story. I'm so sorry you were subjected to that. At least is serves as a cautionary story about not putting too much trust into some of those services that are suppose to be helpful. I've been hearing increasing numbers of stories about the breakdown of social services.
@Zedie36 hey gabe, so yeah, both facilitators are LCSW's. they're primary practices specialize in other areas of focus, though i think they've done a few hrt letters. regardless, they're pretty fucking worthless. i'm eager to draw some light to the serious lack of support, next week i'm going to meet with the director of the university's lgbt resource center. thanks for your concern. and luckily, i'm in a much better space.
re: the first part of this vid, Effie and Hippie are so effin CUTE! And so are you :-D I have a camelbak on my bed too, I get paranoid about knocking glasses of water over in the night and there is no danger of that with a camelbak
@tobyr3 i want to tell the right people & see what can be done to get loving & caring prof. for that group. it's just i had surgery & my recovery hasn't been as smooth as i hoped, so i haven't really spoken out about my experience. i will though. this very much needs to be addressed. it's just sad though. i have insurance, actually i have AMAZING insurance & even if i didn't, i could afford a good therapist. the people who attend this meeting are so limited in every capacity, that this is it.
@Chianna328 yeah, it's good to talk about it. even if it does leave me exposed. i'm glad i was able to get the support i needed, that's important. hope you're thanksgiving went well.
@iagoarchangel thanks jimmy. it's not so raw now, which is always nice. but i'm proud of myself for really feeling this without watering it down. gonna write to peter tomorrow, hope he's well. what's his youtube channel? does he vlog, i know he's more comfortable with written word. take care.
@Zedie36 slc has a rather involved trans community. i dunno how big is big since this is the only trans community i've engage with face-to-face, but for instance, in utah, november is trans awareness month and there were all kinds of events promoting trans issues around the valley. it was really great being home for this, last year i was still living in korea. i plan on speaking to a few different people about this. i dunno if i'm the one to speak for the group, i never really belonged, but
re: the rest of the video. Fuck bro, no-one should have to go through that kind of shitty, utterly non-supportive experience. I really really admire your strength in coming on here to talk about it. I haven't bit the bullet and talked about *anything* related to my gender stuff yet, I don't know how you do it. Glad you got your surgery and are looking so much happier in your more recent vids
Good luck in trying to implement some changes for this group. It may take some work since part of the problem probably lies in the fact that there is a certain level of immunity from being held accountable by such 'professionals.'
@Greengiraffe10 ah, thanks mel. i wonder how T will effect my ability to cry on the internet? but its important for me to share the good with the bad. thanks for all your support. hope the pups are well. oh, and of course nye, but loves PUPPIES!!!!
Hey man, thats not cool the experience you had in the support group. Is there another group you can join instead? Have you been able to get in contact with a professional regarding the suicidal thoughts?
@alexhaney100 thanks alex, yeah, i'm glad i was able to see what was happening and get out of there too. i don't know why it took so long, but once i witnessed negligent care it was clear this is not supportive. i hope i can speak to the right people and improve the care my community gets. we shouldn't have to put up with such a blatant lack of concern, esp when suicide plagues us in a very real and tangible way. thanks for your support man, it means a lot.
What an awful experience. Sounds like a lame, hurtful group. I wish there were more helpful groups out there for queer people. I volunteered to lead a lesbian group at a LGBT center last year, and many of the people who attended the group were a little "off," like they really needed therapy but were poor or even homeless so came to the group instead. Plus, I'm a volunteer, not a therapist, so I didn't know how to deal with it and ended up quitting. Wish we had better support for all of us!
@tobyr3 this is what they get. so while i can go else where to get my needs met, other members of my community are subjected to flat out hostile 'supportive' environments because... well, this is a group of transgender individuals and so we should be happy with what we get? i'm def gonna stir the pot some, and see what i can do to help institute change.
@hikinghomohippie Haha! The step probably won't be necessary... I'm only 5'7" but for sure, we'll man hug it out and philosophize on how to make things better. Then make them better :D
@kypharrop oh one day man, one day! i think i'll have to stand on a step cause you seem like a tall dude, but yeah, i'll cash in on 'the biggest hug!' thanks kyp.
is the facilitator trans or a mental health professional? or both? i find "gender experts" to be the WORST mental health professionals for trans people and i always recommend that people NOT go to someone who says they are gender experts. they seem to be so intellectually and professionally oppressed by the DSM and WPATH SOC stuff. you shouldn't have been allowed to leave that meeting alone that night or without a check in with someone. this was so wrong and i'm so sorry you've experienced it.
omg Alex I am so sorry that this happened to you!! Thank you so much for sharing, your videos are so open and honest. I really appreciate how you share the entire perspective, the good and the bad, which is so important. And I'm glad you got out of that situation.
Oh Alex, I'm so sorry that you had to go through all of this, but I'm glad to hear you're in a better space now. I think it's wonderful how you share your experiences and emotions with others. You make a difference. *hugs*
@Zedie36 i def want to speak about my experience and articulate how this impacted me. it's crazy how privileged i am to seek proper mental health care.
on a completely different topic, i actually lived in cinci for about half a year. i knocked doors selling alarm systems in west commonsville & over the rhinne & every other dodgy neighborhood. talk about a real quick wake up call to privilege. here i am, utah raised exposed to utah 'ghetto.' but i loved it. it changed my life for the better.
@TheSLOfox that sounds like a really difficult situation. it would be tricky facilitating a group and not being a therapist. unfortunately, both the facilitators at that group i attended are licensed therapists who most definitely are held to a higher standard. i agree, here's to all the support anyone could ever get!
@Zoelzo i agree. i don't think it's too much to ask, no demand, PROFESSIONALS who are kind and loving. once i'm up and about i definitely plan on meeting with a few key people to discuss my experience. i've already started to draft a series of letter writing campaigns also, so this can't be pushed aside. i hope i'm able to instill some change because god knows it's greatly needed.
Thank you for sharing this sad story. I'm so sorry you were subjected to that. At least is serves as a cautionary story about not putting too much trust into some of those services that are suppose to be helpful. I've been hearing increasing numbers of stories about the breakdown of social services.
@Zedie36 hey gabe, so yeah, both facilitators are LCSW's. they're primary practices specialize in other areas of focus, though i think they've done a few hrt letters. regardless, they're pretty fucking worthless. i'm eager to draw some light to the serious lack of support, next week i'm going to meet with the director of the university's lgbt resource center. thanks for your concern. and luckily, i'm in a much better space.
i appreciate this video alex, very much. thank you for sharing your story with us.
re: the first part of this vid, Effie and Hippie are so effin CUTE! And so are you :-D
I have a camelbak on my bed too, I get paranoid about knocking glasses of water over in the night and there is no danger of that with a camelbak
@tobyr3 i want to tell the right people & see what can be done to get loving & caring prof. for that group. it's just i had surgery & my recovery hasn't been as smooth as i hoped, so i haven't really spoken out about my experience. i will though. this very much needs to be addressed. it's just sad though. i have insurance, actually i have AMAZING insurance & even if i didn't, i could afford a good therapist. the people who attend this meeting are so limited in every capacity, that this is it.
I'm glad you were able to get top surgery, and I hope you can get to a place where you feel better! Thanks for sharing this.
@Chianna328 yeah, it's good to talk about it. even if it does leave me exposed. i'm glad i was able to get the support i needed, that's important. hope you're thanksgiving went well.
@iagoarchangel thanks jimmy. it's not so raw now, which is always nice. but i'm proud of myself for really feeling this without watering it down. gonna write to peter tomorrow, hope he's well. what's his youtube channel? does he vlog, i know he's more comfortable with written word. take care.
@moomintroll8 thanks rebecca, i appreciate you're support.
@Zedie36 slc has a rather involved trans community. i dunno how big is big since this is the only trans community i've engage with face-to-face, but for instance, in utah, november is trans awareness month and there were all kinds of events promoting trans issues around the valley. it was really great being home for this, last year i was still living in korea. i plan on speaking to a few different people about this. i dunno if i'm the one to speak for the group, i never really belonged, but
re: the rest of the video. Fuck bro, no-one should have to go through that kind of shitty, utterly non-supportive experience. I really really admire your strength in coming on here to talk about it. I haven't bit the bullet and talked about *anything* related to my gender stuff yet, I don't know how you do it. Glad you got your surgery and are looking so much happier in your more recent vids
Good luck in trying to implement some changes for this group. It may take some work since part of the problem probably lies in the fact that there is a certain level of immunity from being held accountable by such 'professionals.'
@Greengiraffe10 ah, thanks mel. i wonder how T will effect my ability to cry on the internet? but its important for me to share the good with the bad. thanks for all your support. hope the pups are well. oh, and of course nye, but loves PUPPIES!!!!
Hang in there, Alex. You're precious and unique, and we need you here. I'm glad you make your videos.
Hey man, thats not cool the experience you had in the support group. Is there another group you can join instead? Have you been able to get in contact with a professional regarding the suicidal thoughts?
@alexhaney100 thanks alex, yeah, i'm glad i was able to see what was happening and get out of there too. i don't know why it took so long, but once i witnessed negligent care it was clear this is not supportive. i hope i can speak to the right people and improve the care my community gets. we shouldn't have to put up with such a blatant lack of concern, esp when suicide plagues us in a very real and tangible way. thanks for your support man, it means a lot.
@84source thanks for your support. it really helps.
What an awful experience. Sounds like a lame, hurtful group. I wish there were more helpful groups out there for queer people. I volunteered to lead a lesbian group at a LGBT center last year, and many of the people who attended the group were a little "off," like they really needed therapy but were poor or even homeless so came to the group instead. Plus, I'm a volunteer, not a therapist, so I didn't know how to deal with it and ended up quitting. Wish we had better support for all of us!
@Whitedoggy24 thanks man, i'm glad my vids have been helpful. that makes me feel good.
@tobyr3 this is what they get. so while i can go else where to get my needs met, other members of my community are subjected to flat out hostile 'supportive' environments because... well, this is a group of transgender individuals and so we should be happy with what we get? i'm def gonna stir the pot some, and see what i can do to help institute change.
@hikinghomohippie Haha! The step probably won't be necessary... I'm only 5'7" but for sure, we'll man hug it out and philosophize on how to make things better. Then make them better :D
@SHeroK2 thanks man, 'preciate that.
I wish I could give you the biggest hug!
Sending you hugs!!
@kypharrop oh one day man, one day! i think i'll have to stand on a step cause you seem like a tall dude, but yeah, i'll cash in on 'the biggest hug!' thanks kyp.
is the facilitator trans or a mental health professional? or both? i find "gender experts" to be the WORST mental health professionals for trans people and i always recommend that people NOT go to someone who says they are gender experts. they seem to be so intellectually and professionally oppressed by the DSM and WPATH SOC stuff. you shouldn't have been allowed to leave that meeting alone that night or without a check in with someone. this was so wrong and i'm so sorry you've experienced it.
@kypharrop so you've got 7 inches on me. stepbit is. and one day, from a coffee shop in vancouver, we'll def change the world!
ouch--sorry
Love the stuffed animals! cute.